Melvin Forbes
Melvin Forbes

The Lion Scout’s Half Brother

While researching Cooper’s various scout rifles it come to my attention that Super Scout IV was assembled by Melvin Forbes of New Ultra Light Arms. This rifle would come to be known as “Lion Scout” and was – as best as can be determined – a combination of work by Forbes, Fred Wells, and Johnny Mahan. It is currently in the possession …

Scout Rifle Shangri-La – Happy Birthday Jeff Cooper

It is only fitting this post happen today. You see, today is Jeff Cooper’s birthday. In the late 60s Cooper began experimenting with lightweight bolt-action carbines. Greatly influenced by the life and writings of Frederick Russell Burnham, Cooper envisioned this general-purpose rifle as, “…a short, light, handy, versatile, utility rifle.” Cooper called his idea of this conceptualized carbine a “scout rifle.” In …

A Rifle Like a Reese Cup

Throwback Thursday: This is an updated / condensed version of the first article I wrote about Melvin Forbes and New Ultra Light Arms. It was first published in Gunworld magazine in 2003. The Reese Cup may just be the ultimate candy bar: Peanut butter surrounded by just the right amount of milk chocolate that has pleased pallets since the 1920s. Now, you …